San Salvador

San Salvador is the capital city of El Salvador, approximately in the center of the country in a valley near the base of the San Salvador volcano. The city has a long history, with origins dating back to the Spanish conquest of the Pipil tribes.

Understand
San Salvador lies in the "Valle de las Hamacas" (literally "Valley of the hammocks", as it was called by the Pipil, due to its intense earthquake activity) at the foot of the San Salvador volcano. It covers an area of 600 square km and is home to nearly 2 million people. It is home to one-third of El Salvador's population and one-half of the country's wealth. The downtown area is filled with shops and modern buildings, but unfortunately earthquakes have damaged or destroyed many of the city's historic buildings. The people of San Salvador are generally friendly, though as in any large city, less inclined to engage in conversations with strangers on the street as opposed to other parts of the country. The wealthy live in exclusive suburbs behind tall security walls or luxury condominium buildings. Wealthier areas such as San Benito, Colonia Escalon, Colonia San Francisco, Colonia Maquilishuat, Santa Elena (where the US embassy is located) and Ciudad Merliot have tree-lined avenues, the biggest malls in Central America, bars, clubs, gyms, restaurants, luxury hotels, modern high-rise buildings, plazas, boutiques, cafes, luxury salons, jewelry stores, etc. Some of these neighborhoods are in the hills surrounding the city and have breathtaking views. A number of new gated housing communities complete with parks, swimming pools, fitness facilities and tight security are popular with middle class families. Most of the city's hotels can be found in these suburbs.

There are middle class neighborhoods and residential areas close to the wealthy neighborhoods. Poorer areas are in the northern and eastern districts, along with an abundance of shanty towns sprawling along the city's fringes.

San Salvador's climate is tropical, although the weather can vary; the nights may be cool (especially in December), however, most of the time it is sunny and warm. Wearing t-shirts, jeans, and possibly a light rain jacket is usually sufficient.

Whilst not on most tourists' "to do" list in El Salvador, the capital provides a good base for exploring the rest of the country as it's a transportation hub, with most major roads running through it due to its central location. Spending a few days exploring this cosmopolitan and internationally-conscious city can be a rewarding experience. Whilst parts can seem like a maze of confusion, rich vs poor, modern vs dilapidated, cars vs pedestrians, the city has played a major role in defining and shaping the rest of this small yet intruiging country, once at the forefront of the Cold War. To understand this polarized country, it is essential to understand its political, cultural and social headquarters.

Visitor information

 * El Salvador Travel

By plane

 * Avianca (formerly Taca, Aviateca & Lacsa) is the national airline of El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala & Colombia. Grupo Taca had formally completed their merger into Avianca Holdings as of May 2013 using the Avianca brand for the whole operation, thus expanding services to more places in South America and to Spain. Avianca inherited a fleet of new A319s, A320s, and A321s and the Embraer 190 series from Taca which are still in use throughout the Americas. However, they maintain a greater monopoly with the highest ticket prices, especially for travel within Central America and savvy buyers would do well to compare options using online aggregating services.
 * Volaris El Salvador serves as budget carrier to rival the national airline listed in the above, under the Salvadorian flag. It is a subsidiary brand of Volaris Airline of Mexico, as a separate corporation from El Salvador's Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez International Airport to Cancún, Chicago–O'Hare, Guatemala City, Houston–Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Oakland, Ontario (CA), San Pedro Sula, Washington–Dulles. Travel from additional cities will require transit through Cancun, Guadalajara, Mexico City and/or San Jose, Costa Rica on Volaris.
 * Volaris El Salvador serves as budget carrier to rival the national airline listed in the above, under the Salvadorian flag. It is a subsidiary brand of Volaris Airline of Mexico, as a separate corporation from El Salvador's Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez International Airport to Cancún, Chicago–O'Hare, Guatemala City, Houston–Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Oakland, Ontario (CA), San Pedro Sula, Washington–Dulles. Travel from additional cities will require transit through Cancun, Guadalajara, Mexico City and/or San Jose, Costa Rica on Volaris.

A US$32 departure tax must be paid upon departure. Depending on the airline, the full amount or part of the tax may already be included in the price of your ticket and the amount you must pay will vary from US$0 - US$32.

Other airlines that fly into San Salvador include:
 * Aeromexico Connect (Mexico City).
 * Air Transat (Montreal)
 * Arajet (Santo Domingo)
 * American Airlines (Miami and Dallas)
 * CM Airlines (Tegucigalpa Toncontin (TGU), San Pedro Sula, Roatan)
 * Copa (Panama City)
 * Delta (Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York JFK)
 * Frontier (Atlanta)
 * TAG (Guatemala City, Roatan)
 * Iberia (Madrid)
 * Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale and Houston)
 * United (Houston, Newark, and Washington-Dulles)
 * Volaris and Volaris Costa Rica (Cancun,Mexico City, New York JFK and San José de Costa Rica). Volaris Costa Rica is a subsidiary of Volaris (Mexico) to offer direct flights from San Jose, Costa Rica (as a hub), as a Costa Rican flag carrier, to the U.S., Central America and Mexico.

From the airport offers limited colectivo services up into several major hotels in San Salvador. At other times they offer a private taxi to a destination of the passenger's request. The other is to provide airport transfers into town.

The nearest public bus stop is the #138 bus between Comalapa and San Salvador's Terminal Sur bus station just south of San Salvador. To get to the  go across the parking lot in front of the airport terminal to the other building on the other side (Airport Monseñor Romero Mall). Go through the building's breezeway (or open corridor) to the stop on the other side of the building. Bus makes multiple stops en-route along Hwy 5 and gets crowded. Not recommended for travelers hauling large luggage that needed to be checked on the plane.

By bus
The following are international first or deluxe class (pullman) buses that connect San Salvador to Guatemala City. There are other lines that also go to Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua and/or Costa Rica as well. TicaBus is the only company serving Panama City from San Salvador. They offer direct service to the said destination, without stopping and depart during the early morning hours to arrive in the afternoon hours thus making for safer travel. Their services usually include reserved seating, movies, on board restrooms and air conditioning. On more deluxe classes they can offer more space to allow the seats to recline further down and stewardess service for drinks and snacks. Most of these companies have their own terminal or an office or desk within a hotel in Colonia San Benito and/or El Centro.

The city has four major bus stations based on the compass points shared by multiple (domestic) bus companies and co-ops in the following:

By car
If you drive to San Salvador from Comalapa, please exercise extreme caution. There are many residents who walk this highway as well as cross it. There are many accidents with vehicles speeding as well as people who are hit.

Get around
If driving, rental car agencies include Budget, Alamo, and Hertz. Buses and taxis also provide good ways of getting around. Negotiating the cost of your taxi, Before you step in, is common practice and expected. Carry small denominations of money and have exact change for your taxi fare. If you do not have exact change, taxi drivers will try to convince you to make the change a tip instead. Distances between sights make walking an unpopular option, as does the street layout in the city; San Salvador is not a square city but has long avenues that are straight and streets that are not. That said, in some areas walking is a great option, such as from Zona Rosa to Las Terrazas (Sheraton hotel) which are close together and within sight of one another.

Boulevards
San Salvador has wide avenues and boulevards, including the two widest boulevards in Central America: Boulevard de los Proceres and Boulevard de los Heroes. Other important boulevards include Alameda Roosevelt, Paseo General Escalon, '''Av. Jerusalem, Boulevard Constitucion and Av. Juan Pablo Segundo'''.

Monuments
San Salvador has many beautiful monuments, some of them dating back to the early 20th century, while others are more modern. Some of the most important monuments include the National Palace, Plaza Gerardo Barrios, Plaza Morazan, Water Clock, Monument to the Sea, Atlacatl Monument and the Proceres Monuments (it has 10 monuments). One of the most recognizable monuments in El Salvador is the Monumento al Divino Salvador del Mundo, or "Monument to the Saviour of The World".



Museums
San - Salvador has many museums, the two most important are "Museo David J Guzman" and "Museo de Arte MARTE". David J Guzman National Museum of Anthropology contains a variety of Mayan and Pipil artifacts, while Museo de Arte MARTE displays an extensive collection of international art. Both are in the Zona Rosa district. There is also a children's museum, the Tin-Marin museum, where kids can experience the world in a fun way. The old national palace is being restored to house the "National Archives," and the "National Museum." Also a new display of early mammal fossils, including a giant sloth, mastodon and more than twenty other species is being set up in the "Museo de Historia Natural," or "Natural History Museum" situated in the SE section of Saburo Hirao park by the National Zoo. Close to the zoo is the "Museo Militar," or Military Museum which is housed in the old castle-like "El Zapote" barracks built in 1895. In the military museum you can find weapons and army uniforms from the 17th, 18th, and early 20th centuries, which were historically used by the Salvadoran army. Other highlights of this museum include the original copies of the 1992 peace accords and the Pope Mobile used when Pope John Paul II visited the country. Entrance is free and a guide service is provided at no charge.



Parks
San Salvador has a large urban park, the "Parque de los Pericos". There is another park called Parque Cuscatlan (close to downtown), which is very elegant, with lights, trees and paths. Popular with locals, the beautiful botanical gardens of La Laguna (close to the U.S. embassy) showcase much native fauna. Zoologico Nacional (The National Zoo), and Parque Saburo Hirao (with a collection of native plants) are in the SE part of the city by the old Presidential House.

If you don't get a chance to visit smaller towns and villages outside the capital, a must see destination is Los Planes De Renderos. 1000 Meters above sea level, and it offers a spectacular view of San Salvador. This is a popular oasis for locals from the hectic city life. Check out the restaurants, and near-by parque Balboa, (Balboa Park) with lots of trees and green lawns, ideal for picnics. Indulge yourself eating the tasty salvadorean treat known as pupusas! Visit the nearby colonial town of Panchimalco, one of the few towns in the country with a large indigenous population. Another interesting spot not to be missed is the spectacular natural formation and viewing area known as Puerta del Diablo (devil's gate).

Entertainment
San Salvador has several entertainment venues. You can go to restaurants, bars, clubs, casinos, or if you are traveling with kids you can go to the cinemas, bowling, bingo, arcades etc. Cinemas in San Salvador include You can also play video games at World Games and El Mundo Feliz. Families may also want to visit Central America's largest toy store:
 * Also, you can go via cable car to an amusement park on top of Cerro San Jacinto mountain (no longer in use).
 * Also, you can go via cable car to an amusement park on top of Cerro San Jacinto mountain (no longer in use).

The trendiest night spot to visit is called Zona Rosa. Some of the best hotels are there, including the Sheraton Presidente and one of the most luxurious hotels in Central America, the Hilton Princess. Although Zona Rosa doesn't cover a large area (around 1sq mi), it's home to many exclusive, upscale bars and nightclubs (Los Alambiques, Code), and the best restaurants in town (Paradise, 503, A lo Nuestro). If you want to visit a nightclub without the probable inconvenience of not being let in, you should visit Las Terrazas (Stanza, Envy) at Multiplaza Mall.

Business
Feria Internacional de El Salvador is the largest convention center in Central America. El Salvador is rated the third best place for investment in Latin America by Moody's. Some of the very wealthy business families in San Salvador and throughout El Salvador are Siman (owners of the largest department store chain in Central America), Poma (owners of Grupo Roble and Grupo Poma), Quiros (owners of Grupo Q in Central America), Kriete (owners of TACA Airlines), Dueñas (owners of La Gran Via), the family that owns Biggest, Pops, Nash and Mister Donut, and a lot of other important families. In addition, San Salvador is one of the only two cities in Central America that have a World Trade Center.

Theaters


San Salvador has many theatres, including the beautiful Teatro Presidente (near Zona Rosa), where the symphony regularly performs expensive and inexpensive concerts, and the Teatro Nacional (downtown), which has been restored to its full splendor. Here you can step back and experience the grandeur once reserved for the city's elite in the early 1900s.



Learn
There are many private schools and universities, including many language schools.

Buy

 * La Casita. Locations in both Centro commercial multiplaza, San Benito and Centro commercial Plaza San Benito.
 * La Ceiba, Galerias, Col.Escalon Av. Paseo Gral.Escalon. There are Many other la ceiba stores in the city.



Malls
Some of the shopping malls include: Loma Linda, Multiplaza, Las Fuentes, Galerias (elegant), Metrocentro (said to be the largest in Central America), El Paseo (expensive), Plazamundo , Plaza Merliot, La Gran Via (a lifestyle center / "city walk"), Las Cascadas, Basilea (unique), Plaza San Benito, Villas Españolas and many more. These malls have luxury boutiques, the latest in international fashion, specialty stores, large foodcourts (some even have 3 food courts) and many other amenities.



Local crafts
For local arts and crafts, visit the Ilopango markets east of the city. Test your bargaining skills and take home some unique, handmade goods. For cheap souvenirs such as hammocks and other local crafts try the Mercado Cuartel. A good hammock can be yours for under $15 US, depending on bargaining skills.

Department stores
San Salvador and some Mexican cities are the only cities in Latin America with Sanborns (restaurant and store chain) and Dorians (or Sears). Other department stores include Siman, Carrion and Almacenes Europa.

Supermarkets and other retail stores

 * Despensa Familiar Discount store. has 63 stores in El salvador.
 * Maxi Despensa has 16 stores in El Salvador.
 * Walmart Supercenter has 6 stores in El salvador.
 * Super Selectos. has 99 stores in El salvador.
 * La despensa de Don Juan has 17 stores in El Salvador.
 * Pricesmart (Costco in the U.S.A.), Blvd. De los Heroes and Santa Elena.
 * Dolarcity Discount store. has 100 stores in El salvador.

Eat
The restaurant scene in San Salvador is influenced by many different cultures. Food options include Italian, Korean, Japanese, Thai, French, Chilean, American, Peruvian, Mexican, Spanish, Middle Eastern, German, Chinese, Argentinian and others. Local food options include Tipicos Margot where one can purchase the famous Salvadoran Pupusas. Perhaps the biggest indictment against the quality of the San Salvador restaurant scene however is the sheer number of chain restaurants referenced in this article.

Budget
When you are in El Salvador you won't have to worry about finding a place to eat, there is food everywhere you go.

Mid-range

 * Punto Literario. In El Museo de Arte Marte col. San Benito. Zona Rosa.
 * Punto Literario. In El Museo de Arte Marte col. San Benito. Zona Rosa.


 * Royal, 87 Avenida Sur. Chinese food. +503 2264 0051
 * San Martín Multiplaza and El Paseo. Bakery.
 * Benihana inside El Paseo - International Japanese steak house
 * Bennigans inside La Gran Via - International - Irish
 * San Martín Multiplaza and El Paseo. Bakery.
 * Benihana inside El Paseo - International Japanese steak house
 * Bennigans inside La Gran Via - International - Irish

Splurge

 * Los Ranchos, Calle La Mascota #232 Interseccion Pje. A y Pje #3 Col.La Mascota, Zona Rosa.
 * El Mirador, Intercontinental Hotel, Col. Escalón. Buffet and à la carte.
 * Hunan, Upmarket Chinese restaurant specialising in Szechuan and Shanghai in elegant surroundings - Paseo General Escalón y 99 Avenida Norte. Plaza Villavicencio
 * El Mirador, Intercontinental Hotel, Col. Escalón. Buffet and à la carte.
 * Hunan, Upmarket Chinese restaurant specialising in Szechuan and Shanghai in elegant surroundings - Paseo General Escalón y 99 Avenida Norte. Plaza Villavicencio
 * Hunan, Upmarket Chinese restaurant specialising in Szechuan and Shanghai in elegant surroundings - Paseo General Escalón y 99 Avenida Norte. Plaza Villavicencio

If you need to buy something, there are a lot of supermarkets in this city. Some are international, which come from Guatemala, the USA and other countries that are interested in bringing supermarkets to San Salvador.

Drink
San Salvador is well-known for its nightlife. Clubs and bars can be found in the Zona Rosa, Basilea Mall, La Terraza (Sheraton Hotel), Las Terrazas (Multiplaza Mall), Boulevard de Los Heroes, Temptation Plaza, and the bars and restaurants area in La Gran Via (mall and night lifestyle center). These places have many bars, discos, restaurants, DJ centers and boutiques.

Visit the laidback bohemian bars (university crowd) around Calle San Antonio Abad to meet interesting locals or head to the Zona Rosa/Multiplaza Mall area to dance the night away with the city's style-conscious upper class youth.

Bars and clubs

 * La Taberna, Beer House 79 Ave Sur y Calle La Mascota, Lotes #7 y 8. Bar and grill. +503 2519 4374
 * Scape (Gay),Centro Comercial Juan Pablo Segundo, Local 311A, Prolongacion Juan Pablo Segundo, San Salvador.

Large events and conventions are generally held in the Feria Internacional.

Mid-range
The staff of all the hotels speak English and Spanish, but there are also others who speak other languages. All the hotels include room service.



Stay safe
San Salvador has had a history of violence. San Salvador was considered the most dangerous city in the world in 1992. Today, El Salvador has made tremendous progress combatting crime with a hard-line approach to the gang crisis. The current homicide rate sits at one of the lowest in the Americas at 2.4 per 100,000. At one point it had some of the highest homicide rates in the world, and it was an epicenter of the gang crisis, along with Guatemala and Honduras. Still some precautions should be observed and common sense should prevail.

To stay safe:
 * Don't walk on streets that look abandoned and dark.
 * Use only licensed taxis or rent a car. If you are adventurous, watch your valuables and put away jewelry when using the public buses. Most major hotels have taxis that they have approved as safe and legitimate. If unsure about a taxi, call your hotel and they can generally have a safe taxi dispatched to your location.
 * At best, walk in tourist areas.

You are not likely to have a problem in the malls or inside major stores or museums, and most public buildings are full of security guards, alarms, fire extinguishers, etc.

In San Salvador’s downtown areas, the malls, the Zona Rosa, most tourist attractions, and the upmarket neighborhoods are generally the safest areas. Doing your homework and avoiding gangland areas will ensure you have a hassle free and enjoyable experience.

No matter how adventurous you may feel, it is strongly advisable to stay away from the city's poorer districts of Soyapango, Barrio Mejico and Apopa and their surroundings on the east and north sides of the city.

Health services
San Salvador is a city full of pharmacies. Hospital services are also very good and facilities include Hospital de Diagnostico in Villavicencio Plaza.

Banks
Finding a bank is not a problem within the city. Banks include Citibank, Banco Agricola with a $5.50 ATM fee, BanTpym, Banco Centromericano, cuscatian, Procredit. Banco Davivoenda has an ATM fee of $3.50.

Embassies and consulates
Being the national capital, San Salvador hosts a large number of embassies. A majority of them are clustered in the western part of the city in Colonias Escalón, San Benito and Naquilishuat or further west into the Municipality of Santa Tecla. A number of countries maintain a non-resident diplomatic representation to El Salvador from their embassy in Mexico City, Washington DC, or elsewhere in the region. The following countries maintain an embassy in San Salvador:
 * 🇦🇷 Argentina
 * 🇦🇺 Australia
 * 🇧🇿 Belize
 * 🇧🇷 Brazil
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇨🇴 Colombia
 * 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
 * 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇬🇹 Guatemala
 * 🇭🇳 Honduras
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇲🇽 Mexico
 * 🇳🇮 Nicaragua
 * 🇵🇦 Panama
 * 🇪🇸 Spain
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States
 * 🇻🇪 Venezuela

Go next
You can get out of Comalapa International Airport or rent a plane for a moderate fee in Ilopango Airport to give you a ride to other of the countries important cities. The rent a plane service is available to go to Santa Ana, San Miguel and La Union (on Tamarindo, near the Gulf of Fonseca where you can board a ferry to take you to the other Islands).

If you are looking for an excursion out of the city, check the classified section of the newspaper Diario de Hoy' ("Asesores de Viaje y Excursiones" heading) for any reasonably priced tours that may be departing soon.